Just a Handful of Flour and a Little Oil
Bible passage: 1 Kings 17:8-14
“Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, 9 “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there; behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” 10 So he arose and went to Zarephath, and when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks; and he called to her and said, “Please get me a little water in a jar, that I may drink.” 11 As she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a piece of bread in your hand.” 12 But she said, “As the LORD your God lives, I have no bread, only a handful of flour in the bowl and a little oil in the jar; and behold, I am gathering a few sticks that I may go in and prepare for me and my son, that we may eat it and die.” 13 Then Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go, do as you have said, but make me a little bread cake from it first and bring it out to me, and afterward you may make one for yourself and for your son. 14 For thus says the LORD God of Israel, ‘The bowl of flour shall not be exhausted, nor shall the jar of oil be empty, until the day that the LORD sends rain on the face of the earth.”
Dear brothers and sisters, nowadays, people have become heartless without affection. Though they enjoy financial abundance, they’re so depleted mentally. When people lived in poverty, when they got something to eat, they shared it with their neighbors. Even though they had to shiver with cold, they were willing to share their coal briquettes with others. Those were the days when people didn’t have high fences.
They didn’t fear for safety even with their doors unlocked. So, we see elderly people missing those days, saying that they were happier back then. But, what about now? People are so busy with their lives that they have no interest in other people’s business. They don’t even know who lives next-door, let alone know how their neighbors are doing. When a person is robbed on the street, many people would look the other way for fear that they would suffer harm by stepping in. Then, what about relationships among brothers?
Despite having been born of the same parents, they don’t want to suffer loss for each other. Their relationships often break up, over money. So, few people would sacrifice their lives for their brothers in an emergency. Even in the old days, such sacrificial acts were not common, but they were occasionally seen among good-hearted people who’d learned the right duties. But nowadays, even parents often refuse to sacrifice themselves for their children and vice versa. So, if parents save their child at the risk of their own life, it becomes big news on TV and newspapers and people talk about it for quite a while. Then, how should God’s children who are taught the word of the truth act? Particularly, as believers who’ve been taught the word of goodness, you and I ought to discern God’s good will for this generation all the more clearly. Let me tell you a story.
A poor college student was driving through a mountain and his car broke down. For he knew nothing about cars, all he could do was waiting for someone to help out. At this point, a car was approaching. But, it just passed by the student, ignoring his signal for help. There came another car. The driver did not look away. He pulled over and asked where he was going. Hearing that the destination was far away, he took off his shirt and started checking his car. In about 30 minutes, the engine started.
The driver kindly notified him that the gas station was about 30 minute away so he could get his car repaired there. Being so thankful for his kindness, the student expressed his heartfelt gratitude and carefully drove. But, much to his surprise, the driver go his way but followed him along. This way, the student could make it to the gas station safe and sound. Finally, as the driver was about to depart for his destination, the student asked him his name and address out of deep gratitude. But, his reply was, “I am a Christian who believes in God. I just did what I had to do.” Brothers and sisters, though this is not a story about a person sacrificing his life for someone else, it serves as a good example enlightening us on what kind of heart we should have even in trivial matters of our lives.
As you cultivate such a good heart, you can display deeds of greater goodness like the widow in Zarephath from today’s passage. The widow didn’t just do a good deed but provided for Elijah, the man of God. That’s how she could receive greater blessings, which indicates how blessed we’d be if we serve God and His people. As you achieve a heart of sacrificing yourselves and doing good deeds before God and men, you can accomplish God’s good, acceptable and perfect will. May this message help you clearly realize this fact and also enlighten you on how to receive blessing from God! By doing so, I pray in the name of our Lord that all of you will demonstrate good hearts and deeds worthy of His blessings. Brothers and sisters, today’s scripture shows a widow from Zarephath providing for Prophet Elijah.
To better understand the story in today’s passage, we first need to look at its historical background. At the time, Ahab and his wife Jezebel worshiped pagan gods and distanced themselves from God. So, the people also worshipped idols and committed all kinds of sins. Ahab’s wickedness was so severe that the Bible records, “Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD more than all who were before him.” So, God decided not to give rain to Israel for years and had His beloved Prophet Elijah prophesy this before King Ahab. In His providence, God wanted the people of Israel to know that Barr which was considered the god of abundance and rain is a worthless idol. But, King Ahab, however, did not repent and turn from his ways.
Instead, he hated Elijah who proclaimed that prophesy and tried to kill him. Knowing this in advance, God told Elijah to hide in the Brook of Cherith. He sent ravens to bring Elijah bread and meat day and night. God also gave him a favor by preparing a brook from which he could drink. For there is nothing impossible with God, He fed and protected His servant Elijah even though insignificant creatures like ravens. As the drought got severe and time went by, even the Brook of Cherith ran dry. So, God again commanded Elijah. 1 Kings 17:9 writes, “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there; behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” Here, Sidon refers to the gentile land under the rule of Ethbaal, the father of Queen Jezebel. This was like walking into a lions’ den. Nevertheless, Elijah obeyed this word. And, what happened next is in today’s passage.
What kind of person was Elijah so God guided him every step of the way in His will? He was a vessel prepared for the glory of God. And, he was a servant who was so loved and recognized by God that he was lifted up to heaven alive without seeing death. Before looking into Elijah in more detail, let’s briefly look over this incident which was later in time than today’s passage. Until then, Elijah had been protected by God in His providence. But, according to God’s will, he was again sent before King Ahab. This was how the ‘famous’ answer of fire came upon Mount Carmel. He assembled the prophets of idols, Baal and Asherah, the Israelites had worshipped to prove whose god is the true One. They agreed to place offerings on the altars and prayed to each god and decide who the true God is by seeing which one sent an answer of fire from heaven. First, the 450 prophets of Baal earnestly asked their god.
Did the answer come? No way it did! They must’ve looked absolutely ridiculous as they asked and begged before the idol which could not hear, see, or speak. Elijah who was watching that scene also found them so foolish that he ridiculed them, saying in 1 King 18:27, “Shout louder! Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened.” Hearing this, the prophets of Baal asked for fire, even slashing themselves with swords and spears and shedding blood. Now, it was Elijah’s turn to pray. He prayed as follows, "O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, today let it be known that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and I have done all these things at Your word. 37 Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that You, O LORD, are God, and that You have turned their heart back again.”
As he was finished with praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.” Watching this, all the people said, "The LORD -He is God!” Brothers and sisters, would you be able to boldly testify to the living God like this? If there had been no answer of fire, Elijiah’s destiny must’ve been obvious, because he was single-handedly contending with the enemies. Elijah, however, trusted in the living God, the God of power 100%, he could boldly speak of God’s power and scoff at the prophets of Baal. Through this faith, God answered him with fire, so all the people could come to know His power.
At this church, God has manifested His power numerous times through your changes in life, healing, and blessings in your businesses or workplaces. Many people who had problems in their families or businesses or lived in despair with diseases have experienced the resolution of their problems. They’re firmly testifying to God, just as Elijah testified to the living God and His power through the answer of fire at Mount Carmel. Brothers and sisters, through this incident at Mount Carmel, Elijah let all the people who were watching know that only the LORD God is the true Deity.
Because he would be used as a precious tool for God’s glory, God gave him food even through ravens and had the widow from today’s passage provide for him. Now, going back to the passage, when Elijah arrived in Sidon according to the command and met a widow prepared by God, he made a following request. "Please get me a little water in a jar, that I may drink." Though it was a request from a stranger she’d never seen before, she did not reject it but turned to bring water. But at this point, Elijah asked her again, “Please bring me a piece of bread in your hand.” Due to a long drought, it was extremely difficult to get water. But now, the prophet even asked for bread.
We can only say that he was going too far. Yet, the widow neither got angry nor felt upset. Rather, she was sorry that she couldn’t afford to help and gave explanation. She said in 1 Kings 17:12, “As the LORD your God lives, I have no bread, only a handful of flour in the bowl and a little oil in the jar; and behold, I am gathering a few sticks that I may go in and prepare for me and my son, that we may eat it and die.” Suppose the woman said this to you. How pitiful and poor she must’ve been to your eyes! How could you ask her for the remaining food in that situation? But, what did Elijah say to the woman? In the passage, he said, “"Do not fear; go, do as you have said.” He continued, “The bowl of flour shall not be exhausted, nor shall the jar of oil be empty, until the day that the LORD sends rain on the face of the earth.”
The drought was severe to the point where people weren’t able to buy food even with a lump of gold. But, Elijah asked for the last food she would have before death. It must’ve been never easy for people with common sense to obey this. Also, if she had thought, ‘If he really had such power as he claims, why would he have to ask me, a poor widow, for food?’ she couldn’t have obeyed. But, she obeyed his word, giving no reason or excuse. As she obeyed like this, her good heart could be manifested as God’s acceptable will. Herein lies the reason that among so many people, God chose this poor widow to provide for Elijah and gave her blessings. God knew her good heart and that she would obey if Elijah asked her for food, promising God’s blessings.
That’s why God led Elijah to that land and had the widow provide for him. Through this process, God also opened the way of blessing for this good widow. All things happened by God’s providence, not by a coincidence. The blessing she received is well written in 1 Kings 17:15-16, “So she went and did according to the word of Elijah, and she and he and her household ate for many days. 16 The bowl of flour was not exhausted nor did the jar of oil become empty, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke through Elijah.” Brothers and sisters, then, how could the widow demonstrate such great deeds and obedience? She had a heart filled with goodness.
Because she was a person who would always help out anyone and do good, she was able to act that way even in a situation where it was extremely difficult to extend goodness. Matthew 12:35 says, “The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil.” She possessed such a good heart by which she would’ve displayed the same kind of good deeds even if the visitor had been someone else, not Elijah, the man of God. But, because the person whom she treated was Elijah, the man of God, it added to her blessings. Later on, she even had her dead son revived by Elijah. Brothers and sisters, had she had even a bit of selfishness or greed, she would’ve never obeyed Elijah’s word. But, because she had a good heart by which she was willing to share and give what she had, she could demonstrate obedience.
This is a good heart that God wants from us and His good will. So, how could God have left her alone? He wanted to bless her anyhow. God could’ve fed Elijah in other ways. But since He wanted to bless this widow, God sent Elijah whom He guaranteed to this woman. It’s the same today. If you indeed possess the kind of heart the widow had, God will surely work for you and bless you through people or other means. But, if you calculate with a desire to receive something after giving, this isn’t goodness God wants. Also, if you give only to people whom you like or those whom you want to give something to, this isn’t God’s good will either. Jesus said in Matthew 5:40-42 “If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. 41 Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.”
He also said in Verse 44, “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” And, Verse 48 tells us, “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” These are God’s good will for us. If you’ve attained God’s goodness like this, you’d be able to give whatever you’re asked to give to others as well as God. We read in 1 John 3:16-18, “We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.” for our brothers. And, when we find our brothers suffering financially, we shouldn’t look the other way.
Seeing his brother in need and closing his heart against him refers to the case where the Holy Spirit inspires a person to do something but he doesn’t follow it by looking at reality or for other reasons. Even though the widow had a good heart, unless she had obeyed through deeds, she wouldn’t have received great blessings. Likewise, we can also receive overflowing blessings when we obey the voice and guidance of the Holy Spirit dwelling in our hearts. But regrettably, many people who profess to believe in God fail to demonstrate their faith in a difficult reality and follow the inspirations in their heart. So, they cannot receive God’s answer.
Though God inspires them to offer fasting, vowed prayers, give offerings, etc, their fleshly thoughts hinder them from obeying. So, they cannot be blessed. But, once we become God-pleasing good children, it doesn’t matter even when we face a problem difficult to be solved by men. What matters is, whether we come before God with a good heart. Brother and sisters, the kind of goodness God wants from us is not sacrificing ourselves, giving, and loving only within our limits. There is a saying, “Cut even a small piece of cake in half and share.”
But, God wants you to display the kind of goodness by which you’re willing to give the whole piece when a brother asks you for it. And even when he doesn’t ask, you give it when the Holy Spirit inspires you to do so. Remember the early church members who abounded with spiritual love. Acts 2:42-47 say, “They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. 46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people.
And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.” How anointing and beautiful they are. This church has also been aiming to be like the early churches. Particularly, our shepherd exhorted us to imitate the deeds of having all things in common and sharing things with all and become like the early churches. Hopefully, learning from the goodness of the widow from Zarephath, all of you will be more like the members of the early churches. Brothers and sisters, if you have self-seeking desires or selfishness, you won’t be able to provide for other people with your last food like the widow did. Her being able to do that was goodness in God’s sight. No question that she didn’t expect anything in return. Since God could not bless her just because of the goodness in her heart, He had her good heart revealed as good deeds through Elijah.
And, those good deeds were God’s acceptable will. Ultimately, the widow and Elijah were used as beautiful tools for each other and both were blessed. Showing deeds is acceptable to God. Moreover, she displayed deeds, risking her own life and even her son’s. So, she could fulfill God’s perfect will. She gave, not because she could afford to give. She gave even when she couldn’t, even before death. That’s how her deeds were acknowledged as perfect. When He wants to bless a good person, God allows him a chance to act and inspires him to show deeds acceptable to Him. We should not miss out on such opportunities. Let’s say you have goodness and the Holy Spirit inspires you. But, you fail to show deeds and miss the blessings.
Then, how sorry our God would feel! Serving God and the church and serving the brothers and sisters around us with a good heart are all God’s will for us. We find in Psalm 37:4, “Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart” and in Hebrews 13:16, “And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” What are your heart’s wishes? Whatever they are, if you become able to demonstrate goodness through today’s message, you’ll experience His answers and blessings. You will become blessed witnesses to the living God. I pray in our Lord’s name that all of you will receive these blessings through this divine healing meeting.
